Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Claude Smith was shot and killed while assisting a sheriff's deputy search for a wanted man on the eighth floor of a building in the Vaughn Housing Project, at 1101 North 18th Street. During the search, an unrelated man mistook Officer Smith for a child molester believed to be in the area and shot him. Officer Smith was off duty when he agreed to assist the sheriff's deputy. Officer Smith had been a member of the St.
Survivors
Louis Police Department for seven years and is survived by his wife and 6-month-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-791C5D4C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Smith gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Claude C. Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Claude C. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Claude C. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Claude C. Smith is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Claude C. Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
